This article originally ran in the June 2, 2020, issue of FEDManager.com.

Last month we made a point to touch on some of the uplifting stories that have emerged as federal managers work to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. This month, we want to take a look at some of the efforts we are working on to protect managers and all federal employees.

FMA strongly supports and endorses the Federal Frontline Worker Leave Protection Act (H.R. 6733), introduced by Representative Jennifer Wexton (D-VA). This legislation is aimed at protecting annual leave benefits for frontline and essential workers, who cannot take time off due to the pandemic.

Federal Managers Answer the Call of Public Service in that Hour of Our Nation’s Need - May 5, 2020

This article was published in the May 5, 2020, issue of FEDManager.com

Last week, Government Executive reported more than 10,000 federal employees have contracted Covid-19. This news came as overall confirmed positive cases in the United States passed one million. FMA members are doing their part to help stop the spread, while finding and creating ways to accomplish their missions and provide the vital services upon which the American people rely. In the midst of the early stages of a raging pandemic, we wanted to share just some of their stories that have inspired us, and that represent the great work that resilient federal managers are doing in this time of uncertainty and crisis.

On Tuesday, April 14, the Federal Managers Association (FMA) and 27 other organizations within the Federal-Postal Coalition sent a letter to all Members of Congress to highlight challenges facing the federal and postal community related to the COVID-19 pandemic and urge congressional support on those issues.

The Federal Managers Association is proud to announce the winners of the Association's highest honors and awards. On March 30, we recognized Ken Westlake of FMA Chapter 375 (Environmental Protection Agency, Chicago, Illinois) as FMA's 2019 Manager of the Year. Now, we present the winners of the Gil Guidry Award, the President's Award, the Odell Green Award, FMA's Super Recruiter, and the top regional recruiters of new members. We hope that shining a light on these deserving public servants and sharing a little bit of their stories will help boost everyone's morale in these trying times. FMA is certainly impressed with their accomplishments and thankful for your service to our country and the Association.

The Federal Managers Association has named as its Manager of the Year Kenneth A. Westlake, deputy director of the tribal and multimedia programs office of the EPA’s Chicago regional office and president of the FMA chapter there.

In early March 2020, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced the Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act of 2020 (S. 3401), legislation that would replace the current formula for calculating the windfall elimination provision (WEP). The bill is companion legislation to H.R. 3934, introduced in the House of Representatives by Representative Kevin Brady (R-TX) in July 2019. FMA has endorsed both bills, which would create a new formula for WEP, calculating benefits by taking into account the actual wage and work history of public sector employees.

Whether permanent or as part of a contingency plan, teleworking requires a combination of culture changes and technology.

Aaron Boyd, Nextgov

The spread of the coronavirus means federal employees might see at least some telework time over the coming weeks and months. For agencies where working remotely is not the norm, it can be difficult to quickly shift workloads from the office to employees’ homes.

Federal Facilities Need to be Part of National Infrastructure Upgrade, Says FMA - February 8, 2020

Federal Manager's Daily Report

The Federal Managers Association is urging that federal agency facilities not be left out of any nationwide infrastructure improvement initiative, saying many federal installations have “critical needs.”

Groups Hope for at Least Partial Relief from Offsets - January 10, 2020

FEDweek

Several federal employee organizations have said that an opportunity may be at hand to gain relief from two Social Security-related offsets affecting many federal retirees, although that relief may come as less than a full repeal.

The two provisions are called the government pension offset and the windfall elimination provision, both of which commonly affect those who are retired, or will retire, under the CSRS program which does not include Social Security. The former offset commonly reduces any personal Social Security benefit earned through other employment while the latter reduces and often eliminates a spousal or survivor Social Security benefit. While CSRS now makes up only about 5 percent of the active workforce, two-thirds of federal retirees went out under that system and about two-fifths of new retirees are under CSRS.

On Tuesday, December 17, 2019, the House of Representatives approved two spending packages that would fund the federal workforce for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2020. The funding package includes a 3.1 percent average for federal employees, comprised of a 2.6 percent across-the-board salary increase and a 0.5 percent average boost to locality pay. FMA is pleased with this development, which the association worked for throughout 2019.

FMA supports both the pay raise and the spending deal. We urge the Senate to approve the measures, and President Trump to sign the bills into law, prior to the expiration of the current continuing resolution.